“2019 is both an exciting year for women’s cricket, and – in a sense – the beginning of a new journey for the international squad. At the back end of 2018 we lost around 600-caps worth of experience with the retirement of four senior players, and with Lucy O’Reilly taking a break from the game, this has opened up opportunities for younger players to step up and take their chance on the international stage. Combined with the new player contracts, the international season will certainly take on a sense of the new.”

“The players have trained hard over the winter months, and it will be good to get out on the field and taking on one of the world’s top teams here in Ireland.”

“The senior squad selected for the West Indies series is one which blends experienced players with some of the best emerging talent we have, with the likes of Louise Little and Leah Paul impressing in the Academy and Super 3s, and Naomi Matthews integrated into the senior performance set-up for the first time.”

“With a T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign approaching in August, these matches against West Indies are an ideal start to a big season ahead for the squad.”